Roll cover assembly

ABSTRACT

A roll cover assembly for covering a cargo space of a vehicle includes a cassette housing an extendable/retractable roll cover, a first receptacle adjacent a first side wall of the cargo space and having a channel configured to slidably guide a first end of the cassette during insertion or removal, a second receptacle adjacent a second side wall of the cargo space and having an opening configured to receive a second end of the cassette and permit pivoting of the cassette about the second end during removal of the first end from the first receptacle, a locking mechanism releasably locking the first end of the cassette into the first receptacle, and a release device actuatable to release the locking mechanism by pulling along a line-of-action parallel with a direction in which the first end of the cassette moves during removal from the first receptacle.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.14/602,614 filed Jan. 22, 2015, which, in turn, claims foreign prioritybenefits under 35 U.S.C. §119(a)-(d) to GB 1401061.5 filed Jan. 22,2014, which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a roll cover assembly for a vehicle,in particular, but not exclusively, a roll cover assembly with a releasedevice configured to be activated in substantially the same plane anddirection in which the roll cover assembly is configured to move uponremoval.

BACKGROUND

A conventional roll cover assembly (often referred to as a tonneau) isretained in place by a stiff lateral spring assembly. Such springs canrequire significant effort to be applied in order to release the tonneaufrom the vehicle when not in use. The lateral (cross-vehicle)orientation of the springs mean the user has to overcome the springforce themselves, often at arm's length and with no mechanicalassistance being provided by the hardware. In addition to the physicaleffort required to compress the springs, because of the installedlocation of the tonneau within the vehicle, the task often requires theuser to stretch awkwardly or clamber into the vehicle.

The present disclosure seeks to address these issues.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the present disclosure there is provided aroll cover assembly for covering a cargo space of a vehicle, the rollcover assembly comprising a roll cover and a cassette for receiving orhousing the roll cover, the cassette comprising first and second endsconfigured to engage respective first and second receptacles of thecargo space, wherein the roll cover assembly further comprises a lockingmechanism configured to selectively lock the cassette in the firstand/or second receptacles; and a release device configured toselectively release the locking mechanism. The release device may beconfigured to be activated with a line-of-action that passes through thecassette. The release device may be configured to be activated with aline-of-action that has a component in substantially the same directionin which the cassette is configured to move upon removal from the firstand second receptacles.

Advantageously, the roll cover assembly may facilitate removal of thecassette in a single action. Furthermore, the roll cover assembly mayreduce the tendency for the cassette to twist about its longitudinalaxis which would otherwise interfere with the removal.

The release device may be configured such that the activationline-of-action is closer to a lower surface of the cassette than anupper surface of the cassette. The release device may be configured suchthat the activation line-of-action is at or towards the lower surface ofthe cassette. (The terms “upper surface” and “lower surface” of thecassette refer to the orientation of the cassette when installed in thevehicle.)

The release device may be configured to be activated in a directionsubstantially parallel to and between planes defined, e.g., generated,by upper and lower surfaces of the cassette as the cassette is removedfrom the first and second receptacles. The release device may beconfigured to be activated in a direction closer to the plane defined bythe lower surface of the cassette than the plane defined by the uppersurface of the cassette as the cassette is removed from the first andsecond receptacles.

The release device may be operatively coupled to the cassette at a pointbetween the upper and lower surfaces of the cassette. The release devicemay be provided below the roll cover. The release device may beconfigured such that the release device may extend in a directionsubstantially parallel to the direction in which the cassette movesduring removal, e.g., when the release device is activated.

The locking mechanism may comprise one or more latching members. Thelatching members may be configured to selectively latch in one or morerecesses provided in the corresponding receptacles. The latching membersmay be resiliently biased into a locked position, e.g., by virtue of aspring or other resilient member. The latching members are released fromthe locked position in the recesses by the release device.

The materials at the interface between the latching members and therecesses may be selected for their low friction properties, e.g., tofacilitate retraction of the latching members from the recesses. Thematerials at the interface between the latching members and the recessesmay comprise low friction plastics, such as PTFE.

The latching members may comprise wedge-shaped portions. Thewedge-shaped portions may assist in moving the latching members into aretracted position, e.g., by virtue of the interaction between thelatching members and the walls of first and/or second receptacles as thecassette is inserted into the first and/or second receptacles.

The locking mechanism may comprise a rack and pinion mechanism. Therelease device may be operatively coupled to a pinion, e.g., a piniongear, of the rack and pinion mechanism. Alternatively, the releasedevice may be connected to a rack of the rack and pinion mechanism. Thelatching members may be operatively coupled to one or more racks of therack and pinion mechanism.

The release device may be connected to a rotatable carrier. The carriermay be connected to the pinion with a common axis of rotation. Therelease device may be connected to the carrier at a point with adistance from the common axis that may be greater than the radius of thepinion at the interface with a rack of the rack and pinion mechanism.The release device may be provided with a mechanical advantage, e.g., soas to increase the force that retracts the latching members.

The locking mechanism may comprise a cam and a corresponding camsurface. The release device may be operatively coupled to one of the camor cam surface. The latching members may be operatively coupled to theother of the cam and cam surface such that the latching members may bereleasable by virtue of an interaction between the cam and cam surface.Again, the release device may be provided with a mechanical advantage,e.g., so as to increase the force that retracts the latching members.

The locking mechanism may comprise a guide configured to redirectmovement of the release device. The guide may comprise a pulley, post orany other guide means. The latching members may be operatively coupledto the release device. The latching members may be releasable by virtueof the guide redirecting the movement of the release device.

The release device may comprise a flexible member, such as a strap, tag,cord, band, rope, belt, chain or any other flexible member. The flexiblemember may be configured for pulling by a user, e.g., to remove thecassette from the first and second receptacles. When pulled by the user,the flexible member may ensure that the pulling line-of-action passesthrough the cassette and with a component in substantially the samedirection in which the cassette moves by virtue of the pulling. Therelease device may otherwise comprise a rigid member that may beconfigured for pulling by a user, e.g., to remove the cassette from thefirst and second receptacles. Such a rigid member may be orientated toensure that the pulling line-of-action passes through the cassette andwith a component in substantially the same direction in which thecassette moves by virtue of the pulling. In either case, the releasedevice may comprise a handle formation, such as a loop, knob, handle orany other formation, which may serve as a handle for the user.

The roll cover assembly may further comprise the first and secondreceptacles of the cargo space. For example, the roll cover assembly mayfurther comprise side interior trim portions, which in turn comprise thefirst and second receptacles. The receptacles may comprise one or morerecesses for receiving latching members of the locking mechanism.

One of the first and second receptacles may comprise a channel, e.g., inthe side trim. The channel may be disposed in a substantiallylongitudinal direction of the vehicle, e.g., from back to front. Thechannel may be configured to slidably guide the corresponding first orsecond end of the cassette during insertion or removal. The releasedevice may be provided at a point on the cassette such that the releasedevice may be concealed in the channel when the cassette is in theinstalled position.

The other of the first and second receptacles may comprise an opening,e.g., in the opposite side trim. The opening may be configured torotatably receive the corresponding first or second end of the cassetteduring insertion or removal. In other words, the corresponding first orsecond end of the cassette may pivot about the other of the first andsecond receptacle during insertion or removal. As a result, the oppositeend of the cassette may trace out an arc during insertion or removal,e.g., as the opposite end moves in the channel. The cassette may pivotabout a substantially vertical axis. Accordingly, the arc may lie in asubstantially horizontal plane. The opening may comprise a lowersurface, which the corresponding first or second end of the cassette mayrest on during installation or removal of the cassette.

The channel may be tapered such that the vertical height of the channelmay be greater at a first end of the channel at which the correspondingfirst or second end of the cassette may be received during insertionthan at a second end of the channel at which the corresponding first orsecond end of the cassette may be selectively locked by the lockingmechanism.

The channel may be tapered such that the depth of the channel may besmaller at a first end of the channel at which the corresponding firstor second end of the cassette may be received during insertion than at asecond end of the channel at which the corresponding first or second endof the cassette may be selectively locked by the locking mechanism.

A vehicle, such as an automobile, van or any other vehicle, may comprisethe above-mentioned roll cover assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present disclosure, and to show moreclearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made,by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1A and 1B show a vehicle cargo space with a roll cover assemblyaccording to the present disclosure in an installed position, with FIG.1A showing a plan view of the cargo space and FIG. 1B showing aperspective view of the interface between the cargo space and the rollcover assembly;

FIGS. 2A and 2B show the vehicle cargo space with the roll coverassembly during removal or installation, with FIG. 2A showing a planview of the cargo space and FIG. 2B showing a perspective view of theinterface between the cargo space and the roll cover assembly;

FIG. 3 shows a cutaway side view of a locking mechanism and a releasedevice according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of the locking mechanism and the releasedevice according to the present disclosure;

FIGS. 5A-5C show cutaway side views of the locking mechanism and releasedevice during release of the roll cover assembly from the cargo space,with FIG. 5A showing the locking mechanism prior to release, FIG. 5Bshowing the locking mechanism in a retracted position and FIG. 5Cshowing the roll cover assembly removed from the installed position; and

FIGS. 6A-6C show sectional plan views of an alternative lockingmechanism according to the present disclosure with FIG. 6A showing thelocking mechanism prior to release, FIG. 6B showing the lockingmechanism in a retracted position and FIG. 6C showing the roll coverassembly removed from the installed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosedherein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodimentsare merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in variousand alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; somefeatures may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particularcomponents. Therefore, specific structural and functional detailsdisclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as arepresentative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variouslyemploy the present invention.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a roll cover assembly 100 forselectively covering a cargo space 10 of a vehicle, comprises a rollcover 110 and a cassette 120 for receiving or housing the roll cover110. In the particular example shown, the roll cover assembly 100 may beprovided behind seats 11 of the vehicle. The roll cover 110 may be woundaround a shaft (not shown) in the cassette 120 and spring-loaded towarda retracted state. FIGS. 1 and 2 show the roll cover in the fully woundor retracted state. The roll cover 110 may be unwound by pulling ahandle 112 to extract the roll cover from the cassette 120 and cover thecargo space 10. The handle 112 may be provided on a flap portion 114which may be connected to the remainder of the roll cover 110. The flapportion 114 may be constrained from entering the cassette 120.

The cassette 120 comprises first and second ends 120 a, 120 b configuredto engage respective first and second receptacles 20 a, 20 b in firstand second side walls 12 a, 12 b of the cargo space 10. The cassette 120may be removed from engagement with the first and second receptacles 20a, 20 b. However, as will be described in further detail below, the rollcover assembly 100 further comprises a locking mechanism configured toselectively lock the cassette 120 when installed in the first and/orsecond receptacles 20 a, 20 b. The locking mechanism may be provided ateither or both ends 120 a, 120 b of the cassette 120.

The roll cover assembly 100 further comprises a release device 130configured to selectively release the locking mechanism, for examplewhen it is desirable to remove the cassette from the cargo space 10. Asdepicted, the release device 130 may be a flexible member, such as astrap 132. The strap 132 may comprise a hoop 134, which may provide ahandle for a user to pull. As will be described in more detail below,pulling the strap 132 relative to the cassette 120 releases the lockingmechanism. Furthermore, the cassette 120 may be removed from the firstand/or second receptacles 20 a, 20 b by pulling the strap 132. In thisway, the cassette 120 may be released and removed from the cargo space10 in a single action.

As depicted, the strap 132 may be operatively coupled to the cassette120. In particular, the strap 132 may be coupled to the cassette 120 atany point between upper and lower surfaces 124 a, 124 b of the cassette.(As depicted, the upper and lower surfaces 124 a, 124 b of the cassetterelate to the upward-facing and downward-facing surfaces when thecassette is installed in the vehicle.) In the particular example shown,the strap 132 may be coupled to the cassette 120 at a point at ortowards the lower surface 124 b of the cassette. For example, the strap132 may be coupled to the cassette 120 at a point below the roll cover110.

When pulled, the strap 132 may extend in a direction substantiallyparallel to the direction in which the cassette is removed. When notbeing pulled, the strap 132 may otherwise flop due its flexible nature.However, the strap 132 may have some rigidity such that the strap mayextend parallel to the removal direction even when not being pulled, forexample at its root where the strap is coupled to the cassette 120.

When pulled by the user, the flexible strap 132 ensures that a pullingline-of-action (indicated by arrow L in FIGS. 2A and 2B) at theinterface with the cassette (e.g., the tension force in the strap 132)passes through the cassette 120. The pulling line-of-action may alsoextend in substantially the same direction as the cassette removaldirection. As a result, the orientation and position of the strap 132reduces the tendency for the cassette 120 to twist about itslongitudinal axis, which may otherwise interfere with the removal.

As depicted in FIGS. 1B and 2B, the first receptacle 20 a may comprise achannel 30 a, e.g., in the side wall 12 a. The channel 30 a may bedisposed in a substantially longitudinal direction of the vehicle, e.g.,from back to front, and may be arranged to slidably receive and guidethe first end 120 a of the cassette during insertion or removal of thecassette. FIG. 1B shows the first end 120 a of the cassette in theinserted position and FIG. 2B shows the first end 120 a of the cassettedisplaced rearward and away from the inserted position, e.g., duringremoval or insertion.

The channel 30 a may be tapered such that the depth of the channel 30 a(e.g., in the vehicle lateral direction) may be smaller at a first end30 a′ of the channel at which the first end 120 a of the cassette isreceived during insertion than at a second end 30 a″ of the channel atwhich the first end of the cassette is selectively locked by the lockingmechanism. The depth of the channel may at least partially trace out anarc, for example with a radius substantially corresponding to the lengthof the cassette 120 and a center at the opening 30 b proximate thesecond end 120 b of the cassette.

Alternatively or additionally, the vertical height of the channel 30 amay be tapered with the height of the channel being greater at the first(rearward) end 30 a′ of the channel than at the second (forward) end 30a″ of the channel. In this way, the larger/deeper end 30 a′ of thechannel 30 a may facilitate insertion of the cassette first end 120 ainto the channel and the smaller end 30 a″ of the channel may assist inlimiting movement of the cassette first end 120 a when fully inserted.In particular, the height of the channel 30 a at the second end 30 a″ ofthe channel may substantially conform to the corresponding height of thecassette first end 120 a, such that the cassette may be held securely inplace when fully inserted.

The strap 132 may be provided at the cassette first end 120 a and at apoint so that the strap 132 is substantially concealed in the channel 30a when the cassette 120 is in the installed position. Accordingly, thestrap 132 is obscured from the plan view of FIG. 1A.

The second receptacle 20 b may comprise an opening 30 b, e.g., in theopposite side wall 12 b to the channel 30 a. The opening 30 b may beconfigured to pivotingly receive the second end 120 b of the cassetteduring insertion or removal. In other words, the cassette may pivotabout its second end 120 b after the second end is inserted in theopening 30 b during insertion or removal of the cassette. Accordingly,the cassette first end 120 a may trace out an arc during insertion orremoval, e.g., as the first end moves in the channel 30 a. FIG. 1A showsthe cassette 120 in the inserted position and FIG. 2A shows the cassetteas it is being inserted or removed.

The opening 30 b may extend in a substantially lateral direction of thevehicle such that the second end 120 b of the cassette may be insertedinto the opening by moving the cassette in a direction with a lateralcomponent. Once inserted, the opening 30 b may limit movement of thecassette second end 120 b in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.The opening may also limit movement of the cassette second end 120 b inthe vertical direction. As a result, the cassette second end 120 b isheld in place by the opening 30 b and a locking mechanism may not berequired at the cassette second end 120 b. However, in addition to alocking mechanism at the cassette first end 120 a, a further or portionof a locking mechanism may nonetheless be provided at the second end 120b.

The width of the opening 30 b (e.g., in the vehicle longitudinaldirection) may taper, such that the width reduces with the depth of theopening. In this way, the wider end of the opening 30 b may facilitateinsertion of the cassette second end 120 b into the opening and thenarrower end of the opening 30 b may assist in limiting movement ofcassette second end 120 b when fully inserted. In particular, the widthof the opening 30 b at the bottom of the opening may substantiallyconform to the corresponding width of the cassette second end 120 b,such that the cassette may be held securely in place when fullyinserted.

To install the cassette 120 in the cargo space 10, the cassette secondend 120 b may first be inserted into the opening 30 b with the cassetteat an angle relative to the vehicle lateral direction, in an orientationgenerally similar to that shown in FIG. 2B. The cassette first end 120 amay then be slid into the first end 30 a′ of the channel 30 a and thecassette may be pivoted (about the second end 120 b engaged with theopening 30 b) until the cassette first end 120 a reaches the second end30 a″ of the channel. The locking mechanism may then lock the cassettein place.

To remove the cassette 120 from the cargo space 10, the lockingmechanism is deactivate or released by pulling the release device 130.Pulling the release device 130 may also cause the cassette first end 120a to slide in the channel 30 a as the cassette pivots about the secondend 120 b. Once the cassette 120 has pivoted a certain amount, thecassette second end 120 b may be removed from the opening 30 b and thusthe cargo space 10 altogether.

It will be appreciated that the opening 30 b may comprise a lowersurface which the cassette second end 120 b, e.g., the lower surface 124b, rests on. The cassette second end 120 b may rest on the opening lowersurface not only when in an installed position, but also duringinstallation or removal of the cassette. In this way the cassette 120may be conveniently supported at its second end 120 b duringinstallation or removal such that a user may only have to handle thecassette first end 120 a.

As depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2, the release device 130 may be provided atthe cassette first end 120 a. Accordingly, when a user pulls the releasedevice 130 the cassette first end 120 a may slide in the channel 30 a.It will be appreciated that the line-of-action for the force applied tothe release device 130 by the user may initially be substantially in thevehicle longitudinal direction. The line-of-action may subsequentlyremain substantially in the vehicle longitudinal direction or theline-of-action may be substantially parallel to a tangent of the arctraced out by the cassette first end 120 a. It is also envisaged thatthe line-of-action may be between or beyond these two extremes.

In an alternative arrangement (not shown), the cassette 120 may beremoved without pivoting about one of its ends 120 a, 120 b. Forexample, the cassette 120 may be removed by sliding it linearly, e.g.,with the cassette remaining parallel to the vehicle lateral direction.With such an alternative arrangement, both receptacles may be providedwith channels that can slidably guide the first and second ends of thecassette during insertion or removal. The release device may be providedat or towards a mid-point along the length of the cassette.

With reference to FIGS. 1B and 2B, a slot 22 may be provided in the sidewall 12 a of the cargo space 10. The slot 22 may receive a guide tab 116extending laterally from the flap portion 114. The guide tab 116 andslot 22 may together guide the roll cover 110 as it is unwound from thecassette 120. As depicted, the slot 22 may extend into the channel 30 a.Although not shown, a corresponding slot may be provided on the oppositeside wall 12 b.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 to 5, further details of the locking mechanism140 will be described. The depicted locking mechanism 140 is provided atthe first end 120 a of the cassette 120. The locking mechanism 140 maycomprise first and second latching members 142 a, 142 b, which aremovable, e.g., slidable, relative to the cassette. The latching members142 a, 142 b selectively latch in respective first and second recesses24 a, 24 b provided in the first receptacle 20 a. (Although two latchingmembers and recesses are shown, it will be appreciated that any othernumber of latching members and recesses may be provided.)

The first and second latching members 142 a, 142 b are provided on theupper and lower surfaces 124 a, 124 b of the cassette respectively.Accordingly, the first and second recesses 24 a, 24 b are provided onupper and lower surfaces 26 a, 26 b of the channel 30 a respectively. Asshown in FIGS. 3 and 5A, the latching members 142 a, 142 b may extendbeyond the upper and lower surfaces 124 a, 124 b of the cassette when ina latched state. By contrast, as shown in FIGS. 5B and 5C, the latchingmembers 142 a, 142 b may be retracted so as not to extend beyond theupper and lower surfaces 124 a, 124 b of the cassette and the cassette120 may then be moved relative to the channel 30 a.

As depicted, the locking mechanism 140 may comprise a rack and pinionmechanism. In particular, the release device 130, e.g., strap 132, maybe operatively coupled to a pinion gear 144. The latching members 142 a,142 b may be operatively coupled to respective racks 146 a, 146 b of therack and pinion mechanism. As shown in FIG. 5B, activation, e.g.,pulling, of the release device 130 may cause the pinion gear 144 torotate, which in turn causes the racks 146 a, 146 b to slide and thelatching members 142 a, 142 b to retract. (In an alternativearrangement, the release device 130 may be operatively coupled to one ofthe racks 146 a, 146 b and activation of the release device may thencause both racks to slide thanks to the intermediate pinion gear 144.)

The release device 130 may be connected to a rotatable carrier 148. Thecarrier 148 may be connected to the pinion gear 144 with a common axisof rotation, e.g., such that the pinion gear 144 and carrier 148 areconstrained to rotate together. The carrier 148 and pinion gear 144 maybe integral. The carrier 148 may have a radius that is greater than theradius of the pinion gear 144. The release device 130 may thus beprovided with a mechanical advantage to assist in moving the latchingmembers 142 a, 142 b.

The latching members 142 a, 142 b may be resiliently biased into theextended position, e.g., by virtue of a coil spring 149 acting on thecarrier 148 or the pinion gear 144. Alternatively or additionally, otherresilient members, e.g., springs may act on the racks 146 a, 146 band/or latching members 142 a, 142 b directly so as to bias the latchingmembers into the extended position.

The latching members 142 a, 142 b may comprise wedge-shaped portions 150a, 150b which may be integral with the respective racks 146 a, 146 b.The wedge-shaped portions 150 a, 150 b may comprise angled surfaces 152a, 152 b and engaging surfaces 154 a, 154 b. The angled surfaces 152 a,152 b may be configured so that an interaction between the angledsurfaces and the respective upper and lower surfaces 26 a, 26 b of thechannel 30 a causes the latching member to retract as the cassette isinserted into the channel. By contrast, the engaging surfaces 154 a, 154b may be substantially perpendicular to the direction in which thecassette moves upon removal. As depicted in FIG. 5A, the engagingsurfaces 154 a, 154 b may therefore engage a corresponding wall 28 a, 28b of the first and second recesses 24 a, 24 b such that when thelatching members protrude from the cassette, the cassette may not move.A channel end wall 32 a may prevent movement of the cassette in theopposite direction.

To facilitate retraction of the latching members 142 a, 142 b from therecesses 24 a, 24 b when the release device 130 is being pulled, thematerials at the recess wall 28 a, 28 b and latching member engagingsurfaces 154 a, 154 b may be selected for their low friction properties.For example, the latching members 142 a, 142 b and/or channel 30 a maycomprise low friction plastics, such as PTFE.

The locking mechanism 140 may be provided in an end cap 156 at the firstend of the cassette 120 (as best seen in FIG. 4). The end cap 156 maycomprise an opening 158 to receive the remainder of the cassette and aslot 160 for the roll cover to pass through. The pinion gear 144 may berotatably coupled to the end cap 156, e.g., by virtue of a shaft 162attached to the end cap. The racks 146 a, 146 b may be constrained toslide in the end cap 156. The strap 132 may extend through a furtherslot 164 provided in the end cap. The latching members 142 a, 142 b mayprotrude through respective openings 165 a in the end cap 156.

Although the latching members 142 a, 142 b shown extend perpendicular tothe longitudinal axis of the cassette, in an alternative arrangement oneor more latching members may extend in a direction parallel to thelongitudinal axis of the cassette. For example, such latching membersmay extend through an end wall 157 of the end cap and may engage arecess in a side wall 26 c of the channel 30 a.

Referring to FIGS. 6A-6C, an alternative locking mechanism 240 is shown.As is depicted, the locking mechanism 240 may comprise a cam 270 and acorresponding cam surface 272. The release device 230 may be operativelycoupled to the cam 270 and the latching member 242 may be operativelycoupled to the cam surface 272. In the particular example shown, thelatching member 242 may comprise the cam surface 272. The latchingmember 242 may be retracted by virtue of an interaction between the camand cam surface.

The latching member 242 may be rotatable about a pivot point 243. Afirst end 242 a of the latching member 242 may selectively extendthrough the end wall 257 of the end cap 256. The first end 242 a of thelatching member 242 comprises an engaging surface 254 that selectivelyengages a recess 24 c in the side wall 26 c of the channel 30 a. Thelatching member 242 may be biased into the engaging position shown inFIG. 6a by a resilient member, such as a coil spring (not shown). Asecond end 242 b of the latching member 242 may comprise the cam surface272. The cam 270 may also be rotatable about a pivot point 271. The cam270 may be circular and the pivot point 271 may be offset from thecenter of the cam. Alternatively, the cam 270 may be non-circular, e.g.,with a varying radius.

As depicted in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the cam 270 may be rotated by pullingthe release device, e.g., strap 232. Rotation of the cam 270 may movethe second end 242 b of the latching member, causing the latching memberto rotate and the first end 242 a of the latching member to retract intoend wall 257 of end cap 256 and out of engagement with the recess 24 c.As depicted in FIG. 6c , once the latching member 242 has beenretracted, the first end 220 a of the cassette may move past the recess24 c in the side wall 26 c of the channel 30 a and the first end 220 aof the cassette may slide in the channel 30 a.

As shown in FIGS. 6A-C, the end cap 256 may optionally be slidablerelative to the remainder of the cassette 220 in the direction of thecassette longitudinal axis. A resilient member, such as a spring 259,may be provided to resiliently bias the end cap 256 away from theremainder of the cassette. The outward biasing of the end cap 256 mayassist in securing the cassette 220 in the first and second receptacles20 a, 20 b. It will be appreciated that the resiliently biased andslidable end cap may also optionally apply to other locking mechanisms,such as the locking mechanism 140 depicted in FIGS. 3 to 5.

In an alternative arrangement (not shown), the locking mechanism maycomprise a guide configured to redirect movement of the release device.The guide may comprise a pulley, post or any other guide means. Forexample, a flexible release device may be redirected by a guide, such asa pulley, and the flexible release device may be connected to thelatching members (directly or by some other means) such that pulling theflexible release device moves the latching members into a retractedposition.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that although theinvention has been described by way of example with reference to one ormore examples, it is not limited to the disclosed examples and thatalternative examples could be constructed without departing from thescope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

While exemplary embodiments are described above, it is not intended thatthese embodiments describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather,the words used in the specification are words of description rather thanlimitation, and it is understood that various changes may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.Additionally, the features of various implementing embodiments may becombined to form further embodiments of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An assembly for a vehicle comprising: first andsecond receptacles disposed on opposite sides of a cargo space of thevehicle; a cassette receiving a roll cover extendable to cover at leasta portion of the cargo space and having first and second ends engagablewith the first and second receptacles respectively; a locking mechanismreleasably locking the first end of the cassette into the firstreceptacle; and a release device connected to the locking mechanism andconfigured to release the first end from the first receptacle bywithdrawing a latching member of the locking mechanism from engagementwith the receptacle.
 2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the firstreceptacle includes a channel configured to slidably guide the first endof the cassette during insertion of the first end into the firstreceptacle.
 3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the channel is taperedsuch that a vertical height of the channel is greater at a first end ofthe channel which initially receives the first end of the cassetteduring insertion than at a second end of the channel at which the firstend of the cassette is locked by the locking mechanism.
 4. The assemblyof claim 2, wherein the channel is tapered such that a depth of thechannel is smaller at a first end of the channel which initiallyreceives the first end of the cassette during insertion than at a secondend of the channel at which the first end of the cassette is locked bythe locking mechanism.
 5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the firstreceptacle includes a recess for receiving the latching member of thelocking mechanism.
 6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the secondreceptacle defines an opening configured to receive the second end ofthe cassette and permit pivoting of the second end relative to theopening during removal of the first end from the first receptacle.
 7. Anassembly comprising: a cassette for a roll cover extendable to cover avehicle cargo space and having an end removably engagable with areceptacle of the vehicle adjacent the cargo space; and a lockingmechanism retaining the end in the receptacle and releasable by pullinga release device along a line-of-action parallel with a direction inwhich the end moves during removal from the receptacle.
 8. The assemblyof claim 7, wherein the release device is a flexible member.
 9. Theassembly of claim 7, wherein the release device is configured such thatthe line-of-action is closer to a lower surface of the cassette than anupper surface of the cassette.
 10. The assembly of claim 7, wherein thelocking mechanism comprises a latching member, the latching memberconfigured to releasably latch into a recess provided in the receptacle.11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the locking mechanism comprises arack-and-pinion mechanism operated by pulling the release device towithdraw the latching member from the recess.
 12. The assembly of claim11, wherein the release device is connected to a rotatable carrier, thecarrier being connected to the pinion with a common axis of rotation,wherein the release device is connected to the carrier at a point with adistance from the common axis that is greater than a radius of thepinion at an interface with a rack of the rack-and-pinion mechanism. 13.The assembly of claim 12, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a camand a cam surface, the release device being operatively coupled to oneof the cam or cam surface.
 14. The assembly of claim 13, wherein thelatching member is operatively coupled to an other of the cam and camsurface such that the latching member is releasable by virtue of aninteraction between the cam and cam surface.
 15. A roll-covercomprising: a cassette having an end engageable with a receptacle; andrack-and-pinion including a release device maintaining the end in areceptacle and connecting to a rotatable carrier which is connected to apinion with a common axis of rotation where the release device isconnected to the carrier at a distance from the axis that is greaterthan a radius of the pinion at an interface with a rack of therack-and-pinion.
 16. The roll-cover of claim 15, wherein the releasedevice is a strap.
 17. The roll-cover of claim 15, wherein the releasedevice is connected to the carrier at a location closer to a lowersurface of the cassette than an upper surface of the cassette.